Machine for feeding fibrous material



Dec. 29, 1925. A1,567,896' E.'r v BA1-Es MACHINE FOR FEEDING FIHROUS MATERIAL Filed Deo. l5, 1924 Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

EDIDO V. BATES, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

y:MACHINE FORy IKEEEDING FIBROUS MATERIAL.

y Applicationl-ed December 15, 1924i. Serial No. 755,883.

To all .fw/0m it may concern: n

Be it known that I, Enno V. BATES, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Lowell, in the county of Middle sex and Commonwealth` of Massachusetts,

have invented certain new and useful Im-V provementsl in-,Machines for Feeding yFibrous Material, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means to feed fibrous material and vpertains more particularly to feeding mechanismY for garnetts, carding machines, andthe like.

It is an object of this invention to prevent thin spots, which vvery commonly occur in carded or garnettedmaterial and which is oneiof the reasons that the material is oftentimes subjected to two or more rough cardings before being presented to a finish card. v

It isl also an object of the invention .to utilize the feed rolls of the machine to be fed, in connection with other mechanism, to loosen and straighten out snarled and tangled material .as an initial rough carding operation preparatory to presenting it to the somewhat less ruggedcarding or gar netting cylinders and rolls.

In the past, and particularly in garnetts, the material has been delivered to the usual feed rolls by an apron forming part ofcan automatic weighing and feeding machine such as the Wellknown Bates or Bramwell feeds, the material being dropped from the weighing device onto the apron, and thereafter forced toward the feed rolls by a push board. v

lIn this instance the amount of `material that could be forcedtoward the feed rolls was necessarily limited, and consequently a compact mass could not be kept in front of the rolls to be gradually drawn upon by them because of the tendency of the material' to be. forced overk the rolls, at least a large percentage of it, yand be delivered to the carding rolls and cylinders prematurely and in addition to that' received from be tween the rolls, which action `of course caused the formation of thick spots and prevented good results. l

Because of the fact that the material could not be presented to the feed rolls in a compact mass of approximately even density, at least adjacent the feed rolls, thin places occurred, as at times more -material would pass through the feed rolls,

and be delivered for carding, than at other times, which action was due to the varying density of the materialy and to its unequal distribution across the face of the rolls.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate these faults by providing means against which the material may be forced quite compactly if desired, and which exercises considerable control over the material to be fed, and which greatly vaids in unsnarling tangles and straightening out the fibres preparatory to leaving the feed rolls for the carding operations.

The invention consists in certain novel features which will be fully understood from a description of the drawing and the claims hereinafter given.

.Of the drawing:y

The drawing herewith represents in diagram a vertical longitudinal ysection through a portion of a material or stock feeding machine, showing the invention as applied thereto, and the breast or stock receiving end of a garnett, but it will be understood that the invention is not to belimited to the precise construction and arrangement shown as changes might be made therein without departing from its spirit and scope.

It will also be understood that while the invention is shown-in connection with a garnett, it is also applicable to carding machines or other machines to which fibrous material is fed.

r`The Weighing and feeding machine, a portion of which is shown at 10, is or may be any of the usual or suitable stock feeding machines, and is provided with the stoci:

feeding apron 1l and push board 12, each of which receives its respective movement from a source not deemed necessary to show herein. p

Adjustably mounted above the apron 11 and at the discharge end thereof is a toothed roll 13 arranged to be driven in the direction of the arrow thereon by a belt or sprocket chain 14 from the shaftV 1,5 on

which is a gear 16 meshing with'zi/smaller* gear 17 on the shaft 18.

From the foregoing it will be understood that in most instances it is advantageous to drive the roll 13 at a slower speed than that -of the apron 11, but this may be regulated to suit the occasion by changing the sizes of thegears to attain the speed required. f

A hold down roll 2O is arranged for, and

may or may not be used at the discretion the operator or the requirements of the stock being worked.

The roll 20 is preferably mounted adjustably in a part of the machine 1() and so mounted as to yield upward for a limited distance from its lowest adjusted position g' but may be arranged to be u nyieldingly mounted if desired.

In practice the devices just described will be positioned close to the machine tol which stock is to be fed, which in the present instance is the breast or stock receiving end of a garnett, which is provided with the feed rolls 21 and 22, the clearer roll 28 and the licher in 21.

These rolls are or may be driven in usual manner and speed and adjusted for opera tion as required, the feed rolls 21 and 22 being arranged to receive stock from the apron 11.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that a greater and more compact quantity of stock may be continually presented to the roll 13, which means that thin or bare spots cannot occur, and the stock cannot be fed to the rolls 21 and 22 any faster than the retarding roll 13 prermits, nor can the stock override the roll 22 because of the roll 13, nor can the stock override the roll 134 under ordinary conditions because of its direction of rotation and particularly when the hold down roll 2O is used.

The roll 13 also serves as another and valuable addition to the invention in that its teeth and its speed are so arranged as to function as a drag or retarder for the stoclrbeing pulled through the rolls 21 and 22 and by such actioncauses an initial rough carding of the stock, which is commonly very much matted and tangled, at a point in the process of carding where the parts are rugged and well able to stand the strain. y

lhis initial carding of the matted and tangled material has proven to be of great benefit both to the subsequent cai-ding operations and to the machine effecting them.

By the use of the above described devices it will be readily seen that it is possible to put more stock onto the apron 11 and force it more compactly toward the delivery end without fear of its being delivered to the carding rolls and cylinders before passing through the usual feed' rolls than hasY been possible in the past.

11n object of the invention is to prevent thin places in theicarded or garnetted material, whether these places occur at intervals transversely of the material or in spots throughout thevwork.

It has been found that when the stock varies in bulk transversely of the apron 11, as oftentimes happens, and is allowed to be taken by the feed rolls in that condition, thick and thin spots occur which are objectionable, and re-cardi-ng must take place at least once to correct the fault.

It has also been found that by the use of the present invention the stock may be pressed against the roll 13 with suflicient force to cause it to equalize in density trans versely as well as longitudinally of the apron, thus ensuring a uniformity of stock to be fed to the rolls 21 and 22.

It vwill be understood, however, that it is not the intention to exert great pressure on the stock, and that the stock is not injured, nor the feeding process impaired; in fact, a more even feed is attained than heretofore and to such extent that less carding is required to produce finely carded material than has. been required in the past.

The hold down roll 20 prevents the stock from overriding the roll 13 and may be arranged to exert downward pressure when occasion warrants.

Having described the invention I claim:

1. A machine for feeding fibrous ma terial comprising a stock conveyor arranged to carry stock toward the machine to be fed; feedV rolls arranged to receive stock from said conveyor; means coacting with said conveyor to advance stock towards said feed rolls, said means being arranged to retard the passage of stock between said feed rolls whereby matted and tangled stock is straightened prior to leaving said feed` rolls; stock hold down means arranged in advance of said conveyor coacting means, andA means to force stock carried by said conveyor towards said. first means and said hold down means.

2. In a machine for feeding fibrous material comprising a stock conveyor apron, a toothed roll arranged to coact with said apron to advance stock towards the machine to be fedi; a stock holdy down roll arranged in advance of said toothed roll; in combination with toothed feed rolls. arrangedY to receive stock from said` apron and saidl toothed roll; and means to drive said toothed roll at a speed less than said feed rolls.

In a machine of the class described comprising an endless conveyor belt arranged to carry stock towards the machine to be fed; a toothed roll arranged above said belt at the discharge endD thereof; means to drive said toothed roll; a revoluble hold down device arranged in advance of said toothed roll; in combination with means to accelerate the movement of stock along said conveyor and under said hold down roll.

.4. In a machine ofthe class described, comprising an endless conveyor belt arranged to carry stock towards the machine to be fed; a toothed roll adjustably a1'.-

ranged above said belt adjacent the discharge end thereof; means to drive said toothed roll; a stock hold down roll arranged above said belt and in advance of said toothed roll, said hold down roll being adjustably and yieldingly mounted; in combination With means to accelerate the movement of stock along Said belt whereby it is forced against said toothed roll and automatically caused to equalize its density lo along the face of said toothed roll.

Signed by me at Lowell, Mass., this 11th day of December, 1924.

EDDO V. BATES. 

